Walkie Talkie Lingo & Codes: How to Radio Like a Pro

If you ever had a walkie talkie set when you were a kid, you know just how much fun they can be. Sharing secrets, feeling important, and taking your best friend with you wherever you were throughout the range was always exciting. As an adult, walkie talkies are just as exciting, but also a bit more practical. Whether you use them for traveling, safety, or even just for fun, it’s always a good idea to know the proper ‘lingo,’ and of course, helpful codes that make walkie talkies so unique.

Important Walkie Talkie Phrases

Want to really feel like a radio pro? Let’s take a look at some of the most popular phrases broadcasted out, so you can bring the walkie lingo into your life whenever you’re on a channel. How many of these phrases have you heard of before?

Breaker 1-9. I’d like to start a transmission.

What’s your 20? Where are you?

Do you copy? Can you hear me?

Affirmative. Yes.

Negatory. No.

Roger that. I understand.

10-4. Okay.

Big 10-4. Yes.

As you can see, the lingo is simple and clear – it’s not hard to learn, at all! Practice some of these phrases to use the next time you pick up your radio, and you’ll sound like you’ve been mastering the language for years.

Key Walkie Talkie Codes

Equally important to the ‘walkie talkie universe’ are the codes you can use to communicate. As kids, it can be fun to push buttons and develop your own secret language with this feature. As adults, however, the codes given out by a walkie talkie are what help to save lives, and keep people safe. If you’re unable to communicate verbally, or need something quickly, knowing a few of these basic codes can really come in handy.